2003 Martin 000JBS Jimmy Buffet Shellback

We all loved, truly loved Jimmy Buffett and his music and everything he stood for, and we mourned his untimely passing in 2023. Over the years, the Martin Guitar Co. made two special Jimmy Buffett models and this one is considered to be the very coolest and the very best in so many ways. It is of Martin's original 12-fret 000 body size and design, first introduced in 1902 and rarely done since in any form. The top, back and sides of this special Martin are of genuine mahogany, a rare and unusual combination right there for a 12-fret 000. The fingerboard and bridge are of ebony with 1-13/16” nut width and 2 5/16 string spacing at the bridge, both noticeably more comfortable to play than most other 12-fret Martins. In Jimmy's honor, there is a raised gold ship's porthole emblem with palm tree-island-sky Inlay in various shades of mother-of-pearl and composite on the peghead. The fingerboard has, in addition to traditional mother-of-pearl dot inlays, a ship’s wheel at the 5th fret and Jimmy’s signature in script at the 20th fret, both also beautifully done in mother-of-pearl, and to balance it all off the soundhole rosette has a heart-of-abalone-shell inlay ring. It’s all so tastefully done and unique in the Martin pantheon; I’ve never seen another quite so arresting.

To me from its original owner, in excellent condition in every way with a very few tiny scratches here and there and hardly ever played; there is literally no fret wear. Has of course got Jimmy Buffett’s real live signature on its “nautical chart” label along with that of CF Martin IV, and its edition number of 149/168 and its original Martin serial-numbered hang tag. Includes special Geib™ style hard shell case with honey leatherette covering. $6995 w/ohsc